re: Is America Still a Good Country? Or, are we the bad guys now?(Posted by Joshjrn on 12/31/12 at 6:22 pm to AlaTiger)

We're neither. We're merely pragmatic. We do what is in our perceived best interest and don't do what is perceived not to be in our best interest. Nothing inherently wrong with that. I just wish people will open their eyes and drop the myth that we are a benevolent superpower. We aren't. I have no clue if we ever were, but we certainly aren't now.

re: Is America Still a Good Country? Or, are we the bad guys now?(Posted by Midwesterner on 12/31/12 at 6:23 pm to thetempleowl)

quote:America is both good and bad. When disaster strikes, who is there first? Whose military is often providing humanitarian missions with helicopters? When there is a disaster, the world often looks to the US to lead. But by the same token, this token has done some bad things to protect its interests or its presumed interests. We might be considered the best and the worst country in the world for that reason

The social democracies of the Scandinavian Circle actually lead in humanitarian efforts and disaster reliefs.

re: Is America Still a Good Country? Or, are we the bad guys now?(Posted by mograyback on 12/31/12 at 6:37 pm to Joshjrn)

quote:We're neither. We're merely pragmatic. We do what is in our perceived best interest and don't do what is perceived not to be in our best interest. Nothing inherently wrong with that. I just wish people will open their eyes and drop the myth that we are a benevolent superpower. We aren't

The ultimate passive aggressive.

If things we've done for our own best interest are bad, then yes, it is bad. It doesn't matter that we did it for our own best interest.

re: Is America Still a Good Country? Or, are we the bad guys now?(Posted by PirateJunk on 12/31/12 at 6:47 pm to AlaTiger)

We never were the "Good Guys." The good guys get conquered not necessarily by the "bad guys", but by the guys who are willing to put aside honesty and morality in pursuit of power. We have been relatively good in comparison to other countries(Nazi Germany, Soviet Union), but we've never been some bastion of morality.

re: Is America Still a Good Country? Or, are we the bad guys now?(Posted by AlaTiger on 12/31/12 at 6:58 pm to Joshjrn)

quote:We're neither. We're merely pragmatic. We do what is in our perceived best interest and don't do what is perceived not to be in our best interest. Nothing inherently wrong with that. I just wish people will open their eyes and drop the myth that we are a benevolent superpower. We aren't. I have no clue if we ever were, but we certainly aren't now.

I agree. But, we put forward the idea that we are good in all we do so that our people get behind American policy and support it without asking too many questions. No matter who is in power, you really don't see much change in foreign policy. Now, the domestic security apparatus seems to be marching forward despite the party as well. And, the American people ask no questions because what we do is always good all the time - according to the conventional wisdom.

We do a lot of good things. I just think that we would be better off if we did not think only about what benefitted us and instead thought about what was good and did those things.

re: Is America Still a Good Country? Or, are we the bad guys now?(Posted by keakdasneak on 12/31/12 at 9:33 pm to AlaTiger)

I recently moved to Korea and have an observation. The older generation will start conversations with us and when we say we are American I am thanked as if I fought the war myself. Do you think in 60 years the older people in Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan will see Americans in the same light?